Second Best
                                            by Cade

     ~*~Note from Cade~*~



     Hi, before you read this know that this story is my attempt at
     romance and it's about Link and Malon. There is no fighting or
     anything, just a bunch of sappiness. ;-) Oh yes, and if you are
     upset by the idea of Link ending up with someone other then Zelda
     don't read this!



                ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~



       Summer had come to Hyrule and the land blossomed. It had been
     many seasons since Ganondorf had been vanquished, and the land
     still rejoiced. There was one person though who was unaffected by
     the beauty of the season. Malon was depressed. She had been for
     awhile now, but she'd struggled to hide it. There was enough
     around the ranch to do to keep her occupied so she had no time to
     brood. But still, deep within her heart, she was hurting
     terribly. You see, Malon ahd fallen in love with the Hero of
     Time. At first it was simple attraction. With his sun-kissed good
     looks, Link was easy on the eyes. Yet as they spent more time
     together, Malon became taken with his good humor and kind heart.
     He had v isited her everyday, often bringing her something. A
     fresh fish caught from Lake Hylia, fragrant herbs and flowers
     from the Lost Woods, a handful of sparkling gem stones mined at
     Death Mountain. It was always something nice, and Malon treasured
     each gift.



       Then, all of a sudden he stopped visting. For days Malon waited
     for word from him. Finally, a message arrived from Hyrule Castle.
     It was from Link, saying that something had happened in the
     Sacred Realm. Ganondorf was trying to escape and the Princess
     needed the Hero's help once more.

       Days turned into weeks and there were no further messages.
     Malon began to despair. One day she had to deliver milk to Hyrule
     Market for her father, and she saw Link and Zelda hurrying toward
     the castle together. The Princess had her hand on his shoulde r.

       Several thoughts raced through Malons head, none of them good,
     and suddenly she felt very stupid. How could Link ever want her,
     a peasant girl from a ranch who worked from dawn to dusk
     everyday, when he could have a princess? Malon became convinced
     Zelda was the cause of Links absence then, and her heart was
     swept up into her throat by a wave of tears. Swallowing it back,
     she turned to leave as fast as she could. But Link had already
     seen her and was calling her name. Unwil ling to confront him
     then, she ducked into a back alley booth and tried to calm
     herself before returning home.



       Several days later there was a delivery to be made at the
     castle itself. Malon had drug her feet about it until her father,
     the King of Laziness told her to get to it. So here she was, at
     the entrance to the castle's kitchens helping the cooks unload th
     e milk crates as fast as she could. Malon didn't want to be at
     the castle any longer than she had to. After the last crate was
     put away, she turned to go and nearly jumped out of he skin.
     Standing ther looking at her quietly, was Link. She tried to
     hurry past him muttering an "excuse me", but he caught her.

       "Malon, what's wrong? What did I do yo upset you?"

       She looked into his eyes, trying to see some deception there,
     but all she saw was concern. "You know what you did." She managed
     to grate out. It was a horribly typical female line, but it was
     all she could think of.

       "No I don't know. If I did we wouldn't be standing here." Link
     replied squeezing her arm a bit. Malon tried to wrench out of his
     grip but he was too strong. She just looked at him and her voice
     shook with anger as she said, "you haven't been around in ages,
     no letters no nothing! Then I saw you and Zelda together..." She
     trailed of miserably. "I thought-I thought you and I-that we-"
     Malon stammered then nearly shouted, "I can't compete with a
     princess! I couldn't even be SECOND BEST! Goodness, Link, do
     n't..."

       Malon was shaking from all the emotional energy, she felt
     Link's hands on her shoulders but the sensation was distant.
     "Malon," he said quietly, "thats all I ever wanted to hear. Why
     do you think I've been visiting you? Zelda's a friend but I love
     you Malon. It's always been you." He reached up and touched her
     face softly. "Didn't you get all the letters I sent you? Al l the
     presents?"

       Malon had stopped thinking after his declaration of love, but
     the last remark caught her attention. "No," She said, "nothing
     came. Ingo got the mail everyday but-" She stopped and sighed
     with realization, "he wouldn't pass on anything from you anyways.
     "

       Link nodded. "Thats what I thought after he sent me away
     twice."

       "What?"

       "Two times I came to see you in the last week and both times he
     sent me away saying you weren't in."

       Malon shook her head, angry at Ingo and herself for being so
     insecure and jumping to conclusions. "I feel really dumb," she
     said, "but why have you been gone all this time?"

       He took her arm and started leading her down the path. "Well,"
     he began, "Ganon started tearing some holes in the Sacred Realm."

       "Oh no."

       "Yes, and I had to go back in to help th Sages fix the damage,
     which led to another fight with Ganon, on another plain of
     reality at that."

       "But, did you defeat him?"

       Link smiled down at Malon. "Eventually, but first Zelda had to
     teach me some basics in telepathy. It was worth it though. I
     don't think Ganon will be back for awhile."

       With a joyful laugh, she threw her arms around him and hugged
     him tightly. "Oh Link! I'm so glad!" She pressed her hands into
     his shoulders, but was stopped by a gasp of pain.

       "What's wrong?"

       "It's nothing, just a scratch."

       "Really? You acted like it hurt more than a little." She pulled
     his shirt down off his shoulder and saw what Link considered a
     'scratch', was really a long ugly slash stitched up with black
     thread. It was starting to heal but it still looked painful. N ow
     Malon knew why Zelda had had her hand on his shoulder. Tenderly,
     she ran her fingertips along the wound and felt his body relax
     into her touch, Unconsciously they both leaned forward and their
     lips finally met in a kiss. At first it was a soft, virginal
     kiss, but then it became more passionate. "Marry me, Malon," Link
     whispered.

       Joy bloomed in her eyes, and she hugged him warmly again. "Oh
     yes! Yes I'll marry you!"



       They remained in each others arms for many minutes, then Link
     pulled back and Malon saw the look of sadness on his face.
     "What's wrong, Fairy Boy?" She teased and Link laughed. "It's
     nothing really, iust that I wish I had a ring for you. I wasn't
     plann ing on proposing today so I didn't have your ring..."

       A ring didn't matter to Malon on way or another. She smiled
     sweetly and kissed him again. "I don't care, we can worry about
     that later."

       "But I wanted to give you something."

       "You've given me enough!"

       He sighed, "yes but..." His face suddenly lit up, he reached
     for his right ear and undid the small gold hoop he'd alwas worn.
     Gently, Link took her hand and placed the earring in her palm.
     "It's not much, but I want you to have till I get you a ring.
     "I'll take you up to Death Mountain and you can meet some of the
     most talented goldsmiths and jewelers. The Gorons can make you
     anything you want. I don't care, I just want you to be happy."

       Touched nearly beyond words, Malon clutched the gold hoop
     tightly. "I am happy. This is more than I ever wanted.
     You-and-everything-it's just so...perfect." Link cupped her face
     in his hands then said, "and it's just going to get better. Now,
     I think we should go back to the ranch so I can officially ask
     Talon's permission to wed you."

       "Yes! The sooner the better!"

       They started walking back to the castle's stables to get
     Malon's horse and cart. "You know," Link said, "Epona is going to
     be happy to get a mom."

       Malon laughed. "You spoil her."

       "Now I get to spoil you." She squeezed his had, "I could get
     used to that.."

       "There's just one more thing Malon."

       "What's that?"

       Link turned so he was looking her straight in the eye. He made
     his voice low and serious then said, "Don't ever, EVER call me
     Fairy Boy agin."

       Malon giggled helplessly.

       "I mean it Malon."

       "Heh-heh! Oh alright...FAIRY BOY!!!"

       Link made a grab for her, but she darted away laughing
     insanely. He followed her shaking with his own laughter. Life
     would be...different with her, Link decided. Then he yelled her
     name and chased happily after her, under the blue summer sky.



     ~*~EPILOGUE~*~



       And so, Malon and Link lived happily ever after. Well until
     Malon became pregnant and their first child was born, then Ganon
     raised his ugly head again and there was a cattle stampede
     and...The general trials of married life. But those are stories
     for another time.